Protective preparation against mustard vapor



"that the new PROTECTIVE PREPARATION AGAINST MUSTARD VAPOR 2 Claims. (Cl. 252-182) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and use by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to compositions of matter adapted to protect various surfaces against mustard gas and like vesicants, and particularly to protect the skin or surface of the human flesh against such chemical warfare agents.

The blistering and corrosive effects of mustard gas on the human fiesh, animals, and materiel are well known, and a number of compositions and medicaments have been developed or proposed for protecting against this insidious vesicant. Chemically, mustard gas is his (beta-chlorethyl) sulfide and, although it is generally referred to as mustard gas," it is actually encountered on the battlefield in both the liquid and vapor state. Accordingly, where the expression mustard gas is used hereinafter, both the vesicant liquid and vapor are referred to unless otherwise specified.

The primary object of our invention is to provide a new and useful composition of matter particularly adapted to adhere to and adequately protect the human skin and tissue against mustard gas vapor and to limit the degree of injury normally resulting from liquid mustard gas burns. One requirement which our new composi-, tion meets to a high degree in connection with this object is its compatibility with the skin and non-irritation thereof. The value of the invention is enhanced in composition of matter may also be advantageously used for several different purposes. For example, it has been found that it may be used to protect the legs of horses against mustard gas and also as a mustard resistant paint for steel and other metal surfaces, since it will adhere firmly thereto and is not easily washed otf or checked by rain or heat.

Other objects of and uses for the invention will in part be obvious, and will in part appear hereinafter in the following detailed description thereof.

The compound sym dichlor bis (2,4,6 trichlorphenyl) urea contains available chlorine for reacting with mustard gas so as to chlorinate the same and convert it into a harmless, non-vesicant material. Chlorination of mustard gas in this manner is the approved method of destroying this dangerous vesicant agent. However, considerable difficulty is involved in incorporating the vesicant-destroying compound in a suitable carrier so that it may be freely painted or brushed on various surfaces and then retained thereon in a firmly adherent film.

It has been found that our composition having the following formula in percent of ingredients by weight is particularly satisfactory:

Sym dichlor bis (2,4,6 trichlorphenyl) urea powder 20.50 Magnesium oxide (heavy) 2.25 Rosin (commercial grade B) 1.50 Carbon tetrachloride (commercial) 75.75

2,824,070 Patented Feb. 18, 1958 In componding, the rosin may be first dissolved in the carbon tetrachloride. The magnesium oxide and sym dichlor bis (2,4,6 trichlorphenyl) urea powder may then be added and the mixture well triturated so as to obtain a homogeneous product. The finished product should be kept in a brown glass stoppered bottle.

When this composition is applied to the human skin, or other surfaces, the carbon tetrachloride readily evaporates leaving a firmly adherent film of the mustard-destroying agent, rosin adhesive, and magnesium oxide thickener thereon.

As indicated above, the composition limits somewhat the degree of injury from liquid mustard gas by partial neutralization thereof, and also by protecting the surrounding skin from the vapor which is evolved.

Suitable tests have been made to determine the properties of our composition as to the loss of available chlorine on storage, with the following results over a four-month period:

Powder,

Liquid, percent percent 1 The powder was made by evaporating the solvent from the composition and grinding the residue.

2 The solution was stored in a glass stoppered brown bottle at room Since certain changes may be made in the foregoing composition and method of compounding without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that the foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. A composition of matter having substantially the following composition in parts by weight:

Sym dichlor bis (2,4,6 trichlorphenyl) urea powder 20.50 Magnesium oxide (heavy) 2.25 Rosin 1.50 Carbon tetrachloride (commercial) 75.75

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 557,081 Germay June 13, 1928 588,!31 Germany July 3, 1929 590,796 Germany July 20, 1930 496,734 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1938 

1. A COMPOSITION OF MATTER HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FOLLOWING COMPOSITION IN PARTS BY WEIGHT: 